Killing of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, the founder and first leader of the Islamist group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011 shortly after 1:00 am PKT[1] (20:00 UTC, May 1) by United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six).[2]
 Osama bin Laden's compound | |
| Date | May 2, 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location | Osama bin Laden's compound in Bilal Town, Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Also known as | Operation Neptune Spear |
| Participants | Central Intelligence Agency Special Activities DivisionU.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 |
| Outcome | Osama bin Laden's body buried in the North Arabian Sea |
| Deaths | Osama bin Laden (54) Khalid bin Laden (23) Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti (33) Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti's brother Abrar (30) Bushra, Abrar's wife (age unknown) |
The raid
changeThe operation, code-named Operation Neptune Spear, was carried out in a CIA-led operation with Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). The operation ended a nearly 10-year search for bin Laden, following his role in the September 11 attacks on the United States.
The raid on bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan was launched from Afghanistan. U.S. military officials said that after the raid U.S. forces took bin Laden's body to Afghanistan for identification, then buried him at sea within 24 hours of his death in accordance with Islamic tradition.
The SEALs encountered the residents in the compound's guest house, in its main building on the first floor where two adult males lived, and on the second and third floors where bin Laden lived with his family.
The second and third floors were the last section of the compound to be cleared. There were reportedly "small knots of children ... on every level, including the balcony of bin Laden's room".
bin Laden was killed in the raid[3] and initial versions said three other men and a woman were killed as well: bin Laden's adult son Khalid, bin Laden's courier Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, al-Kuwaiti's brother Abrar, and Abrar's wife Bushra.
Al-Qaeda confirmed the death on May 6 with posts made on militant websites, vowing to avenge the killing.
Approval
changeThe raid was supported by over 90% of the American public,[4][5] United Nations, NATO, the European Union, along with a large number of governments, but was criticized by two-thirds of the Pakistani public.[6][7]
Also controversial was the decision not to release any photographic or DNA evidence of bin Laden's death to the public.[8]
Aftermath
changeIn the aftermath of the killing, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani created a commission under Senior Justice Javed Iqbal.[9] The resulting Abbottabad Commission Report, which revealed Pakistani state military and intelligence authorities’ “collective failure” that enabled bin Laden to hide in Pakistan for nine years.[10]
References
change- ↑ Cooper, Helene (May 1, 2011). "Obama Announces Killing of Osama bin Laden". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
- ↑ Gal Perl Finkel, "A New Strategy Against ISIS", The Jerusalem Post, March 7, 2017.
- ↑ Gal Perl Finkel, Back to the ground?, Israel Hayom, November 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Public 'Relieved' By bin Laden's Death, Obama's Job Approval Rises". Pew Research Center. 2011. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ↑ Newport, Frank (2011). "Americans Back Bin Laden Mission; Credit Military, CIA Most". Gallup. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ↑ Pakistanis Criticize U.S. Action That Killed Osama Bin Laden Gallup. May 18, 2011,
- ↑ "Questions around operation against Osama bin Laden". Amnesty International. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
- ↑ Lardner, Richard (September 27, 2011). "US tells court bin Laden photos must stay secret". Associated Press.
- ↑ Staff (September 12, 2012). "Abbottabad Commission given 30 days to submit report". Daily Times, Pakistan. Retrieved June 28, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ HAshim, Asad (July 8, 2013). "Leaked report shows Bin Laden's 'hidden life'". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
Other websites
change
- Closing in on bin Laden — The Washington Post collection of maps, diagrams, and other images
- Phillips, Macon. "Osama Bin Laden Dead." The White House Blog. May 2, 2011.
- "Photo Gallery May 1, 2011." The White House
- Garamone, Jim. "Obama Declares 'Justice Has Been Done'." American Forces Press Service, U.S. Department of Defense.
- Garamone, Jim. "Intelligence, Operations Team Up for bin Laden Kill." American Forces Press Service, U.S. Department of Defense.
- "Office of the Spokesperson Press Release Death of Osama bin Ladin." Embassy of Pakistan in Washington. May 2, 2011.
